Harbour Blues: NSW tactic to beat Sydney traffic from Manly base
NSW coach Brad Fittler is leaving no stone unturned as he plots a State of Origin hat-trick, inviting 64 players to a Blues camp later this month.
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A whopping 64-man Blues camp and boats to training — Brad Fittler’s plans to continue NSW’s State of Origin domination have been unveiled.
In what would be an extraordinary first in State of Origin’s 40-year history, NSW could use Sydney Harbour water taxis to travel to training next year.
The Blues have quit their Bondi base and will instead stay at the Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific next year.
Situated across from world famous Manly Beach, NSW will stay at the four-star hotel before games two and three in Sydney (June 21) and Brisbane (July 8).
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However, they will still train at the $30 million NSWRL Centre of Excellence inside Sydney Olympic Park.
The 34km drive from Manly to Olympic Park could take more than an hour, depending on the unpredictable Sydney traffic.
While transport options to training haven’t been nailed down, using water taxis to get across Sydney Harbour and up Parramatta River will be discussed.
Some senior NSWRL officials believe taking water taxis from Manly Wharf to Sydney Olympic Park Wharf would be quicker and less stressful than boarding a team bus to wade through Sydney’s traffic snarls.
However, other Blues officials are not keen on the idea.
The shift to Manly continues the desire of NSW coach Brad Fittler to have his players stay close to the ocean.
The Blues have already stayed at Coogee Beach, Bondi Beach and Scarborough Beach in Perth.
And for next year’s match against Queensland in Adelaide on June 3, NSW will stay at the four-star Stamford Grand at Glenelg Beach.
The Blues stayed at the QT Bondi Hotel — formerly the Swiss Grand — last year but have elected not to return and will head north into Silvertail territory.
Fittler and NSW adviser Greg Alexander are residents of the northern beaches.
NSW team manager Peter Parr will visit Manly in two weeks to finalise arrangements.
“Being close to the ocean has worked really well for Freddy over the past two years. It’s a relaxing environment,” NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said.
“No matter where they stay, the emphasis would be about replicating that sort of environment. It would be another preparation by the sea where they would do their recovery in the ocean.
“Why Manly? It’s a fantastic environment and of the available alternatives that fit Freddy’s requirements, Manly seems to be the best.
“The team will stay at Manly but train at the Centre of Excellence. The training facilities at the Centre of Excellence are probably the equal of any in the rugby league world.”
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NSW officials will be wary of the many bars and pubs at nearby Manly Corso.
The Kangaroos stayed at the Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific four years ago.
The hotel’s website reads: “With its spectacular beachfront location, Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific offers access to the best of Manly, while still being within easy reach of Sydney.
“This beautiful Sydney hotel is a short stroll from the ferry terminal, where guests can catch a ferry to Sydney CBD.”
Meanwhile,
NSW coach Brad Fittler has invited a whopping 64 players to take part in a State of Origin camp in Sydney this month as he begins preparations for a three-peat in 2020.
NRL premiership stars Latrell Mitchell, Luke Keary and Victor Radley are among 34 players named and in line to represent the Blues in next year’s series, 10 of whom are yet to make their Origin debut.
Parramatta’s Clint Gutherson, Nathan Brown, Mitchell Moses and Ryan Matterson are among the potential debutants, as well as Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs, Manly’s Curtis Sironen, Dragons hooker Cameron McInnes and Wests Tigers halfback Luke Brooks.
All 24 players who have represented the Blues in the past two series were also named in the squad, including South Sydney’s Cody Walker, who played the opening game of the series in 2019.
Missing from last year’s camp is Aaron Woods, Ryan James, Tevita Pangai Junior, Jack Bird, Jordan McLean, Josh Jackson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Fittler has also earmarked players of the future with a 14-man Emerging Blues squad including Melbourne’s Ryan Papenhuyzen and Sydney Roosters players Nat Butcher, Kyle Flanagan and Sam Verrills.
Ben Trbojevic, younger brother to Blues stars Tom and Jake, was also named in among 16 Future Blues who will take part in the camp.
The two-day camp will be held at the Blues’ Centre of Excellence at Sydney Olympic Park on December 12 and 13.
NSW BLUES SQUADS
Blues Squad: Payne Haas, Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane Broncos), Jack Wighton, Nick Cotric (Canberra Raiders), Wade Graham (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Curtis Sironen, Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Josh Addo-Carr, Dale Finucane (Melbourne Storm), David Klemmer, Mitchell Pearce, Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights), Nathan Brown, Blake Ferguson, Clint Gutherson, Ryan Matterson, Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels), Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers), Boyd Cordner, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Latrell Mitchell, Victor Radley, James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters), Damien Cook, Cameron Murray, James Roberts, Cody Walker (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Cameron McInnes, Tyson Frizell, Tariq Sims, Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons), Luke Brooks (Wests Tigers).
Emerging Blues: Emre Guler (Canberra Raiders), Bronson Xerri (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks), Reuben Garrick, Jack Gosiewski (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Ryan Papenhuyzen, Curtis Scott (Melbourne Storm), Matt Burton, Spencer Leniu, Liam Martin (Penrith Panthers), Nat Butcher, Kyle Flanagan, Sam Verrills (Sydney Roosters), Campbell Graham, Liam Knight (South Sydney Rabbitohs).
Future Blues: Brendon Tumeth (Balmain Tigers), Trey Mooney, Clay Webb (Canberra Raiders), Paul Alamoti (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Sione Fainu, Tolu Koula, Ben Trbojevic, Kaeo Weekes (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles), Bradman Best, Mitch Black, Jonah Pezet (Newcastle Knights), Thomas Weaver, Josh Bevan (Northern Rivers), Jason Saab, Tyrell Sloan (St George Illawarra Dragons), Joseph Suaalii (South Sydney Rabbitohs).
Originally published as Harbour Blues: NSW tactic to beat Sydney traffic from Manly base